I grew up in a working family in which my brother and I were the first generation that ever went to college. As a kid, one of the things that I witnessed the most was seeing my parents and other family members, who had limited access to education, struggled with reading and understanding medication labels. We were immigrants, and the fact that I didn 't speak English and had zero knowledge of drugs and medications really upset me for a long time, and the experience eventually became my motivation to pursue pharmacy as my future career. The more I grew up, the more I realized that people from low income families like my parents often struggle from high level of stress and poor mental illnesses, so they tend to rely tremendously on drugs and …show more content…
Speaking of patient care, doctors, physicians and pharmacists are usually the ones who have direct contact with patients. However, for many times patients receive a prescription medication, go home only to realize that they are not really sure about potential adverse effects, toxicity and the risk of taking a new medication. I believe that by becoming a pharmacist, especially the ones working at the clinical setting, I can have the chance to work closely with other health providers to improve medication adherence, reduce the risk of possible side effects and maximize patients ' outcomes through the advanced development of new medicines. With the determination of becoming a clinical pharmacist, I believe I can leave a positive impact on other people 's health problems and the way they understand medications and drugs …show more content…
The interest I have for science courses, especially Chemistry, was intrigued not only because of the mind-set of pursuing pharmacy as a career, but also due to the fact that I was so amazed by the study of things at a molecular level. The curiosity of how molecules interact in the chemical reactions and the complex mechanism behind them truly helped me in problem solving and acquiring more in-depth understanding of other-related scientific concepts. The experiences I gained from those courses undoubtedly drew my attention further to how drugs and medicines work and interact in human bodies. With the hope to learn more about the field and to gain experience working with patients, I decided to volunteer at UC Davis Health System where I got the chance to shadow doctors, nurses and pharmacists and interact directly with patients on a regular basis. What I gained from helping the medical staff was not only the ability to carry out numerous tasks, but was the chance to observe the close and regular interaction between the physicians and pharmacists in order to provide the best health care services for patients. Volunteering in the hospital was really an eye opening opportunity that it gave me a fascinating insight into a daily workday of the clinical pharmacists and the obstacles they have to confront. I was also taught the importance of being patient when dealing with stressful situations and the value of
Subsequent to attending a week of chemistry and medicine lectures during the Sutton Trust Summer School programme at St Andrews University and attending master classes at local universities, I know that I am committed to continue with my scientific education. The experience of lectures and the practical investigations in the laboratory have given me an indication of how to analyse and interpret data at such an advanced level. Studying pharmacology would allow me to develop my knowledge to a higher level, learning more about for example how the derivative of the opium poppy, morphine, works by binding to opioid receptors in order to reduce the impulses from nerve cells therefore relieving pain. I would also be able to explore further how high doses of morphine can cause respiratory depression, but more interestingly how these effects can be reversed by a competitive opiate antagonist which can bind to opioid receptors without activating them.
Pharmacists have training and expertise in medication therapy as well as patient care capabilities to assess and respond to patients’ health care and drug-related needs. Pharmacists are important members of the health care team. Pharmacists are well accepted by general people as healthcare personnel who provide knowledge about medication to patient (Perepelkin, 2011) but they also acquire knowledge and training to asses and respond to patients’ healthcare and drug related need. So prescribing is a logical extended role of pharmacist. It is assumed that medicine and dentistry professions dominate the prescribing activity but some other health care professionals such as optometrists, podiatrists, midwives, and nurse practitioners have been granted prescribing rights (Sketris, 2009). It is suitable for pharmacist to expand their professional role by adopting prescribing because they have skill and knowledge to initiate, monitor and adjust drug therapy and develop patient-centered care. As a result to an expanded scope of pharmacy practice, pharmacists in several Canadian, American, and British jurisdictions can prescribe medications (Tonna, Stewart & McCaig, 2008).
The relationship and the connections built with the patients and other members of the team, made me realise that this is the sector that I want to work in for my career. During this pharmacy role, I was introduced to tasks that are carried out by a physician associate; this included taking medical histories for the pharmacist before he gave specific injections or before I carried out the glucose, cholesterol or blood pressure test. Working at Britannia Pharmacy introduced me to many disorders as I had direct contact with patients and doctors/ general practitioners. Alongside my undergraduate degree, I also worked in a retail store which allowed me to develop some vital skills required for my chosen field such as teamwork, communication and leadership whilst also gaining knowledge about disorders, the biology and drugs. Studying psychological therapies enabled me to increase my skills as well gain an insight into the mental disorders that can arise alongside the physical health.
This introduced a different side of the pharmacy field where a strong interaction with the public is substantial. As a pharmacy techician, I worked to support pharmacists in greeting patients with prescription orders, processing insurance paperwork, and answering questions and requests. I learned to be patient and resourceful, but constrained in my ability to give medical advice as often times patients ask for advice. Also, this job allowed me the opportunity to learn from pharmacists as they prepare prescriptions, provide advices to doctors and help patients with the most cost effective medications. Nonetheless, the most rewarding aspect of this job has been my ability to assist patients and conversing with them on personal level, ranging from trivial topics like how their days go or casual chats about the recent daily events, to their history of medical troubles. This job has definitely provided me with the real-world experience needed to be successful in the pharmacy field and improved my customer service
When you ask people what you think when word “pharmacist” come to your mind? They often say pharmacist have to deal with variety of legal drugs. From my personal opinion, when I hear the word “Pharmacist”, I think of helping others. This inspiration came from my Health Science class I took in twelve grade. Until senior year of my high school, I did not know what I wanted to be. But it all changed, after my first shadowing experience at pharmacist station. There I learn about what exactly the pharmacist career is about, what are some of the equipments used in the field and how I can contribute the knowledge I receive here to help others.
In most cases, when you ask a kid about what he wants to be when he grows up, he would probably answer a doctor, a lawyer, or an engineer. It is very rare that you would hear a little kid saying that he wants to be a pharmacist. I have to be honest pharmacy wasn’t really something that I dreamed about as a child; it was only in recently that I have developed an appreciation to my chosen field. Like doctors, pharmacists also save lives by providing proper medication to people who are in need. Like engineers, pharmacists are innovators, providing the latest medical breakthrough that could help cure illnesses. Compare to physician, pharmacists are always playing leading role in healthcare
As a licensed pharmacist, I would have the opportunity to counsel patients in a beneficial manner. I would be able to influence them and encourage them to make lifestyle changes in order for to achieve the expected results from their medications. I hope to one day hopefully manage my own pharmacy and make health education a priority for all patients. I believe that working as a pharmacist would definitely meet the expectations I have towards a professional career. I would be able to interact with patients while making an impact on them. I know that this journey may be somewhat difficult, but passion and determination will help me achieve my
Pharmacists have a very tedious job because it requires a lot of attention to detail. Pharmacists dispense drugs and provide information to the patients about medication. Not only do they provide information to patients about side effects, but also they inform physicians of the ever-changing selection of drugs and dosage. Weighing, measuring, mixing drugs, finding the identity and purity, and strength of medications is also an important part of the job. Pharmacists must be sure not to dispense drugs that will have a negative reaction to the other medications that the patient may already be taking. Pharmacists work in clean, well-lighted, and well-ventilated areas. They work with dangerous materials and sterile pharmaceutical products, which require them to wear gloves and masks. Many full time, salaried pharmacists work at least about forty hours per week. Community pharmacists research and dispense information and help for diabetes, asthma, smoking cessation, and high blood pressure....
Since my early schooling days, science and mathematics have always fascinated me given that all components of the world are explained on the basis of these disciplines. In this regard, Pharmacy which is based on Chemistry and Mathematics has interested me a great deal as it has direct impacts on our daily lives. The more I have become familiar with the chemistry and mathematics knowledge involved in pharmacy, the more I have appreciated its significance in improving the lives of people in the community. Out of the many careers that one would opt to pursue, Pharmacy has stood out as the career that will enable me serve the society more directly and have a real impact in the quality of peoples’ lives by touching their health. In addition, I love a career that is challenging and one that I will be involved in even in old age. In this case, Pharmacy offers me this opportunity. My interest in Pharmacy has also developed from my personal health experiences and becoming aware of its expansiveness. Every time I have had to take medicine to cure an illness, I have become more interested to know how drugs are made and how the drug components work in the human body to alleviate pain and restore health. I desire to pursue a career in Pharmacy so as to gain practical experience in these aspects of research.
CARE GIVER: Pharmacists must provide caring services of the highest quality, and must view their practice as integrated and continuous with those of the health care system and other health professionals. DECISION MAKER: The foundation of the pharmacist’s work must revolve around accurate decisions made or taken regarding appropriate, efficacious, safe, and cost-effective use of resources (e.g., personnel, medicines, chemicals, equipment, procedures, and practices). Pharmacists must also play a pivotal role in setting medicines policy both at the local and national levels. The pharmacist must thus, possess the ability to evaluate, synthesize data and information, and decide upon the most appropriate course of action.
Being a part of the medical field is what I always wanted for myself. Right now, I’m currently working for a company that’s main focus is promoting and supporting a healthy lifestyle. That company is known as “CVS Health.” At CVS our motto is, “Helping people on their path to better health.” I contribute to that motto by fulfilling the responsibilities and tasks assigned to a pharmacy technician.
I then chose to shadow a clinical pharmacist, since I had always been interested in what their job entailed. Another experience was at a local retail pharmacy all through college. Through my observation of the everyday tasks implemented by the retail pharmacists, I noticed I possessed many of the required skills to become a pharmacist. My ability to work with all types of people would allow me to happily connect with patients. Building amicable relations with patients is imperative because I want them to feel comfortable to ask questions and seek medication information.
I pleased to apply to the PharmD program as the program is one area that corresponds to my career dreams. Being part of this program gives one the opportunity to gain an excellent experience in working and collaborating with various health care providers in the ward. But more importantly, it facilitates a practical environment in dealing more closely with patients. Hence, it helps to provide the ultimate health care services to patients. Also, it permits me to carry on gaining different knowledge, skills, and values in addition to those I have already developed during my undergraduate studies. My interest in being a clinical pharmacist was first aroused during my SPEP rotation in the hospital setting where I was really impressed with the role of clinical pharmacists who provide a consistent process of patient care with healthcare teams to maintain the appropriateness, effectiveness and safety of the medication use. Unlike a pharmacist, a clinical pharmacist has a more diversified responsibilities and closeness to direct patient care. Moreover, provides
During the tenure of five years of undergraduate program I studied variety of different courses including Biochemistry, Anatomy, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pathology, Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Technology, Pharmacognosy, etc. but always found myself more inclined towards pharmacology, physiology and pharmacotherapy of all the different courses I studied and with passing time my interest just grew stronger. In the commencement of undergraduate program, studying different drugs and their mechanisms, diseases and modes of their therapy was merely an interest but by the time my undergraduate degree program ended it became more of a passion. It was for this passion that I decided to pursue a post graduation degree in the respective field. Before I could go any further in academics I wanted to have some practical exposure and consequently, I decided to join a hospital rather than a pharmaceutical industry. Hence, after fighting off a tough competition from all over the country I was recruited among the twenty pharmacy graduates in a year lengthy “On-the-Job Hospital Pharmacist Trainee Program” in July 2013 and currently, I am working as a trainee pharmacist in the most preeminent hospital of the country, Aga Khan Ho...
First, here is some important background information about Pharmacists. A Pharmacist is someone who is trained and licensed to distribute medicinal drugs and to advise on their use. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook Pharmacists do all of the following: "Fill prescriptions, verify proper amounts of medication to give to patients, check whether the prescription will interact negatively with other drugs that a patient is taking or conditions the patient has, instruct patients on how to and when to take a prescribed medicine, Advise patients on potential side effects they may experience from taking the medicine, Advise patients about general health topics, such as diet, exercise, managing stress, and on other issues, such as what equipment or supplies would be best for a health problem, Keep records and do other administrative tasks, Complete insurance forms and work with insurance companies to be sure that patients get the medicine they need, Teach other healthcare practitioners about proper medication therapies for patients, and lastly oversee the work of pharmacy technicians and pharmacists training."() Some pharmacists participate in compounding, where they create medications by mixing ingredients themselves. Pharmacists tha...